Students Injured, Driver Charged in School Bus Crash

A school bus driver faces charges after her bus en route to Rushe Middle School rear-ended another vehicle, causing minor injuries to at least five students.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the bus driven by Deborah D. O' Connor of Lutz was traveling westbound on State Road 54 at about 8:15 a.m. Monday morning when a 1999 Mazda B3000 traveling in front of it stopped for traffic ahead.

O' Connor told troopers she looked in her rearview mirror momentarily and did not see the traffic stop, resulting in the front of the bus colliding with the right rear side of the Mazda driven by William M. Eggers, 47, of Safety Harbor.

According to the FHP report, 44 students ranging from 10 to 15 years old were on board the bus. Five students complained of minor injuries, according to FHP.

Shealyn De Pury, 13, Bryce Harris, 13, Brandon Perez, 14, Brianna Portzen, 11, and Bailey Wagner, 13, all of Lutz, were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital North, according to an FHP report.

The bus was not traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

The accident remains under investigation. O' Conner was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP report.